Havre city manager plan faces commission vote next week

The Havre Study Commission plans to adopt a tentative report calling for a city manager form of government at its meeting Tuesday.

The plan would create a seven-member City Commission to replace the present eight-member City Council. One member would be elected from each ward, two would be elected at-large and a mayor with substantially less authority would have voting powers on council.

The commission would hire a professional city manager.

After the three-member Study Commission formally adopts the tentative plan, a public hearing is required.

Study Commission Chair Dave Brewer said unless there is substantial opposition at the public hearing, he anticipates the Study Commission will adopt the proposal and submit to voters in the fall election.

The three members of the commission — Brewer, Perry Atchison and Lowell Swenson — say they will campaign vigorously for the proposal.

The commission meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the conference room in city hall.